I'm all about Space Weather, but Space Exploration has always been my first love (Hey NASA, I'm ready for my spot in the Astronaut program). Looking ahead, 2025 has some really cool efforts coming up. With the new year now in motion, I figured it's the perfect time to highlight ten missions I'm looking forward to.
1. NASA's Artemis II: Humanity's Return to the Moon
Can you believe it's been over 50 years since humans last set foot on the Moon (I'd try, but I'm not yet 40...)? That’s about to change. NASA's Artemis II mission aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface. According to a post on NASA's website, "Four astronauts will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. The 10-day flight will test NASA's foundational human deep space exploration capabilities, the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, for the first time with astronauts."

Pictured above is NASA's Artemis II Crew, from left to right: Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (Pilot), Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist), and Christina Koch (Mission Specialist). This one has a somewhat personal aspect as I feel somewhat connected with this crew. I had the opportunity to meet Victor Glover a year ago and, thanks to my mentor, he already knew me and my story and it felt more like I was catching up with an older brother. Christina is a fellow Uni as we both attended and graduated from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (Go Unis!). Both are setting firsts, bringing the first American American and Females to the moon.
This mission isn’t just about planting flags and taking footprints. It’s about paving the way for a sustainable human presence on the Moon, a critical stepping stone for future Mars expeditions.
2. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST): Continuing to Redefine Our Cosmic Perspective
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been wowing us since its launch in 2021. Below, is a image captured by JWST; a mid-infrared image of the Sombrero galaxy (Messier 104), revealing a smooth inner disk and intricate clumps in the outer ring's dust, which were previously unseen. This detailed view provides new insights into the distribution of dust, essential for star formation, within the galaxy. It also makes for a GREAT desktop background.

In 2025, JWST is set to make a number of groundbreaking discoveries, with a focus on unraveling the mysteries of exoplanet atmospheres, early galaxy formation, and the behavior of black holes. Among its anticipated achievements are high-resolution studies of distant planetary systems, offering unprecedented insights into potential habitability. With its expanding capabilities, the JWST promises to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe in ways previously unimaginable.
Stay updated at JWST Official Page.
3. Mars Sample Return Mission: Bringing the Red Planet Home
A collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), the Mars Sample Return Mission is set to achieve what no mission has before: bringing Martian soil and rock samples back to Earth. So far, we know that Mars is host to a diverse array of rock and soil thanks to the Mars Rover, Perseverance. Random Fact, "Perseverance" was the name selected by the son of one of my co-workers during my time at DTRA.
Scheduled for key milestones in 2025, this mission will provide humanity with its first-ever physical glimpse of Mars’ surface. These samples could hold clues about whether life ever existed on Mars, offering insights into its ancient climate and geological history. It also serves as another step towards one day bringing humans to the Martian surface. I can't wait for the day when we finally walk on Mars. What are the potential implications? Astronomical!
Read more updates here.
4. The Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)
NASA’s CLPS initiative is partnering with private companies to deploy scientific payloads on the Moon. This collaboration is expected to make major strides in understanding lunar resources like water ice and developing technologies for sustainable lunar living. This is pretty cool to me too. When I was an intern with Northrop (yearssssssss ago), I had a chance to develop one of the link budget sheets they use to plan for one of these missions.
Things are already well underway for the CLPS. NASA, in collaboration with Firefly Aerospace and SpaceX, launched the Blue Ghost Mission 1 on January 15, 2025, as part of the CLPS. The mission carries ten scientific payloads, including instruments to study lunar dust, the Moon's interior, and space weather, along with technology demonstrations like GPS navigation on the Moon.

The Blue Ghost lander is set to arrive in the Mare Crisium region on March 2, 2025, and operate for one lunar day (14 Earth days). This mission will advance lunar science and support the development of technologies crucial for future human exploration.
Read more about CLPS here.
5. The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE)
If extraterrestrial life exists in our solar system, Jupiter’s moons are prime candidates. ESA’s JUICE mission, already en route to Jupiter, is set to reach some critical operational milestones in 2025. The spacecraft will investigate Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto—moons that likely harbor vast subsurface oceans.

JUICE’s findings could revolutionize our understanding of habitability beyond Earth. Could these icy moons be home to alien life? The answers might be closer than ever.
Honorable Mention: Space Development Agency Delivers the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
(This one isn't "Space Exploration" but, since I've got a hand in making this one happen: I'm including it!)
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is on track to deliver Tranche 1 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) in 2025, a critical milestone for advancing U.S. defense capabilities in space. Think of the PWSA as the "Satellite Internet for the Warfighter" being provided by a constellation of 100s of satellites from a diverse set of satellite vendors.
SDA’s strategy to deliver the PWSA in tranches emphasizes speed, scalability, and continuous improvement. By breaking the architecture into manageable phases (aka "Tranches"), SDA rapidly fields initial capabilities while iteratively enhancing functionality in subsequent tranches. This approach integrates emerging technologies as they mature, reducing costs and development timelines. Each tranche builds on the successes of the previous one, ensuring the system remains adaptive to the evolving defense landscape.
Tranche 1 includes deploying 126 satellites in low Earth orbit to form a resilient, interoperable network supporting global military operations. This constellation will enhance missile detection, tracking, and secure communications for U.S. and allied forces, ensuring a robust response to evolving threats. To put this in perspective, it usually takes the government 5-10 years to launch one satellite. SDA is planning to launch 100s in the order of 2-3 years.
What's my role in all of this? I help to influence the outgoing messaging as well as do the forward-thinking surveillance of the Technology Landscape to help plan for the future of the PWSA. Put in other words: I help people not only understand the SDA but to also get involved in it.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 unfolds, humanity will be venturing further into the unknown, fueled by curiosity and an unrelenting drive to explore. From returning to the Moon to studying distant worlds, the missions ahead promise to reshape our understanding of the universe.
Which of these missions excites you the most? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
References:
NASA Artemis Program. (2023). Learn about NASA's plans for the Artemis program, including the upcoming Artemis III mission. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/artemis
James Webb Space Telescope Official Page. (2023). Updates and discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope. Retrieved from https://www.jwst.nasa.gov
NASA Mars Sample Return Mission. (2023). Details on the Mars Sample Return initiative, a collaboration between NASA and ESA. Retrieved from https://mars.nasa.gov/msr/
ESA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) Mission. (2023). Mission objectives and updates on ESA’s JUICE project. Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice_overview
SpaceX Starship Program. (2023). Discover SpaceX’s groundbreaking Starship spacecraft and its role in space exploration. Retrieved from https://www.spacex.com/starship
NASA Gateway Project. (2023). Updates on the Lunar Gateway, an international effort to support deep-space exploration. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/gateway
CNSA Official Website (China National Space Administration). (2023). Updates and news from China’s national space agency, including the Zhurong 2.0 mission. Retrieved from http://www.cnsa.gov.cn
Roscosmos Venera-D Mission. (2023). Information about the Venera-D mission to explore Venus. Retrieved from https://www.roscosmos.ru
NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Program. (2023). Details on NASA's collaboration with private companies for lunar exploration. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/CLPS
Innovative Spacecraft Technologies. (2023). Articles on cutting-edge spacecraft designs and their implications for space exploration.
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